Huet 'Le Haut Lieu' Vouvray Sec, Loire Valley, France 2023
Pickup available at DECANT Napa - 2999 Solano, Napa, CA
Usually ready in 1 hour
Domaine Huet ‘Le Haut-Lieu’ Vouvray Sec, Loire Valley, France 2023
Founded in 1928, Domaine Huet is the gold standard of Vouvray and one of the Loire Valley’s most revered producers of Chenin Blanc. Farmed biodynamically since 1988, the estate crafts wines that are both timeless and transparent—true reflections of place and vintage. ‘Le Haut-Lieu,’ the original Huet vineyard, produces the domaine’s most approachable and generously fruited expression, showcasing the purity and energy that define Vouvray Sec at its best.
WINEMAKER: Jean-Bernard Berthomé (retiring), succeeded by Benjamin Joliveau
FARMING: Certified Biodynamic
VARIETY: 100% Chenin Blanc
TERROIR: From the historic Le Haut-Lieu vineyard on Vouvray’s Première Côte, where deep brown clay over soft tuffeau limestone creates wines of breadth and balance. The site’s gentle slope and proximity to the Loire River moderate temperature swings, giving the Chenin a seamless harmony of ripeness, freshness, and minerality.
VINIFICATION: Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts in a combination of old oak demi-muids and stainless steel. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to preserve precision and vibrant acidity.
AGING: Aged in a mix of neutral oak and stainless steel tanks before bottling with minimal sulfur, retaining vivid fruit and textural finesse.
TASTING NOTES: The 2023 vintage offers a crystalline expression of Le Haut-Lieu—lifted aromas of pear, quince, lemon zest, and white flowers lead into a taut, mineral palate with chalky tension and fine acidity. Dry and precise, yet layered with quiet depth, this wine shows both immediate charm and long-term potential.
FOOD PAIRINGS: Beautiful with Loire Valley goat cheeses, shellfish, roast chicken with herbs, or creamy dishes like leek tart or risotto.
SCORES: 94 pts – Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous
Domaine Huet ‘Le Haut-Lieu’ Vouvray Sec, Loire Valley, France 2023
Founded in 1928, Domaine Huet is the gold standard of Vouvray and one of the Loire Valley’s most revered producers of Chenin Blanc. Farmed biodynamically since 1988, the estate crafts wines that are both timeless and transparent—true reflections of place and vintage. ‘Le Haut-Lieu,’ the original Huet vineyard, produces the domaine’s most approachable and generously fruited expression, showcasing the purity and energy that define Vouvray Sec at its best.
WINEMAKER: Jean-Bernard Berthomé (retiring), succeeded by Benjamin Joliveau
FARMING: Certified Biodynamic
VARIETY: 100% Chenin Blanc
TERROIR: From the historic Le Haut-Lieu vineyard on Vouvray’s Première Côte, where deep brown clay over soft tuffeau limestone creates wines of breadth and balance. The site’s gentle slope and proximity to the Loire River moderate temperature swings, giving the Chenin a seamless harmony of ripeness, freshness, and minerality.
VINIFICATION: Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts in a combination of old oak demi-muids and stainless steel. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to preserve precision and vibrant acidity.
AGING: Aged in a mix of neutral oak and stainless steel tanks before bottling with minimal sulfur, retaining vivid fruit and textural finesse.
TASTING NOTES: The 2023 vintage offers a crystalline expression of Le Haut-Lieu—lifted aromas of pear, quince, lemon zest, and white flowers lead into a taut, mineral palate with chalky tension and fine acidity. Dry and precise, yet layered with quiet depth, this wine shows both immediate charm and long-term potential.
FOOD PAIRINGS: Beautiful with Loire Valley goat cheeses, shellfish, roast chicken with herbs, or creamy dishes like leek tart or risotto.
SCORES: 94 pts – Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous